Prologue

Present- Episode 3

"So, which one looks better to you?" Kida Haruka showed her friend, Heiwajima Shizuo, the cookbook. She was trying to decide which meal to cook for dinner tonight.

"It doesn't matter to me," Shizuo answered, "I don't care what you make." He didn't even look at the choices.

She pouted and brought the cookbook back to her, "You're no fun at all. I want to make you something real good since I owe you and all."

"Will you quit with that owing me crap," he grumbled. He looked down at her since she was shorter than him.

"No," she mumbled, looking at the book to avoid his eyes and blushing, "I'm really grateful to you and I have to show you somehow."

He continued looking at her and smirked. Ruffling her hair, he said, "Don't worry about it."

She smiled at him before looking up at the crowded street. Her eyes wandered around the strangers before settling down on a familiar face. Shizuo noticed her staring and asked, "What's wrong?"

"It's Masaomi," she answered, her voice sullen.

He looked up and started searching for the younger boy. He wasn't hard to find; he was the exact opposite of Haruka. He finally spotted him on the other side of the street.

"It seems like he has some new friends," Shizuo observed, staring at the boy and girl next to Masaomi. All three of them were wearing Raira Academy uniforms. The boy next to Masaomi had short black hair. The girl had shoulder length black hair, glasses and big breasts.

"Are they Yellow Scarves?" Haruka alerted up, her voice fearful. Unknowingly, she dropped the cookbook on the ground.

Shizuo grabbed her arm, "Calm down, its Raira Academy students."

She sighed in relief and began ringing her hands together in nervousness, "That's good."

He studied her actions, "You should talk to him."

She watched as the three of them were talking to some heavy makeup girls. "He looks busy. I don't want to interrupt." She continued to watch the scene until she saw another familiar face. He was a tall guy with short black hair. He was wearing a black t-shirt and a black furry coat with black pants. Her eyes widen as she watched him approach Masaomi. "Oh no!"

"What is it?" Shizuo asked.

"It's, uh, Izaya," she reluctantly answered.

"What!" he growled, his angry eyes searching for his rival.

"Calm down. Calm down," she put her hands on his chest to try to calm him, "Let's think about this."

"There's nothing to think about. I'm going to kill the bastard!" he growled.

"Wait! Wait! I want to help!" she said.

He gave her a confused look.

"I deserve my revenge after all. I'm going to make sure you get a direct hit," she winked at him.

He grinned at her, "Well, I guess I'll wait for your signal."

She smiled and walked towards the group. She watched as the three girls walked away from Izaya and the Raira Academy students, looking disgusted. Izaya directed his attention to the boy with black hair as the girl backed away a bit.

She couldn't hear what he was saying, but she decided to make her presence known, "You better not think about putting these kids into your little games, Orihara Izaya."

Izaya turned around and gave her his traditional sly grin, "Well, if it isn't little Haru."

"I hate it when you call me that," her eyebrow twitched in annoyance.

"Sis," Masaomi whispered, his golden eyes widen.

"No way! Kida Haruka, is that you?" the boy with the black hair spoke up. When he noticed her confused look, he clarified, "You should remember me! I'm Ryugamine Mikado! I was friends with Masaomi before…" he grew sullen "…the accident."

Her crystal green eyes down casted before they finally showed acknowledgment, "Oh, Mikado, it's been too long."

"Very long," he nodded in agreement.

She gave him a sad smile, "I'm glad you're here in Ikebukuro. Masaomi will be happier now that you're here."

"Haruka, I…" Masaomi started.

However, he was interrupted by Izaya, who was clapping and laughing, "This is great! A reunion of old friends and even family members who don't act like family anymore."

Haruka and Masaomi both gave him angry looks. She turned back to Izaya, "Thank you, Izaya. You reminded me why I came over here."

"Oh," he cocked his head, his smiling never leaving his face, "And why is that?"

"I'm just the distraction," she smiled.

Before anyone could say anything, a vending machine flew through the air and nailed Izaya on the head. He was knocked out. The three teenagers gasped at the sight, yet Haruka stood there unfazed and a satisfied smile on her face. She heard Masaomi curse before another voice came upon the scene.

"I thought I told you before to stay out of Ikebukuro," Shizuo approached with a satisfied grin on his face.

She turned to him and smiled, "He didn't even see it coming."

"That was a good job on the distraction," he commented.

Haruka took a glance at the kids. They seemed to have taken a step back, a look of surprise and fear on their faces.

However, they heard a chuckle. They looked over to see Izaya getting back on his feet, still laughing. There was no sign of injury on his head. "I'm so touched. You two pulled off a little tag team in order to get back at me."

"Damn, I wish he stayed down," Haruka murmered. She glanced at Shizuo who was clenching his fists so hard his knuckles were turning white. She understood his hatred for Izaya but she had to be cautious in case something would happen. However, she can't help but feel anger towards the man who came close to ruining her life. "Izaya, after all the crap you put us through, I can't help but feel you deserve all this pain."

"So you still hold a grudge for something against something that happened in the past," his face unchanged, "It's called forgive and forget."

"You bastard!" Shizuo growled furiously.

Things were getting tense. A group of angry-looking people began to crowd around the group. They were holding pipes and bats in their hands, holding them in a threatening away. They were muttering incoherently, but one word could be made out clearly, "Shizuo." Haruka realized that they were gangsters who have been beaten up by Shizuo.

"Hey Shizuo," she timidly called out to him, very aware of the gangsters.

However, he didn't hear her. He looked at the gangsters with an intense stare and growled, "What the hell do you guys want? I'm busy at the moment." He turned his attention back to Izaya.

In all of Ikebukuro, anyone who looked Heiwajima Shizuo in the eyes immediately felt fear consume their bodies. Their minds would go blank and their bodies would freeze up. Everyone went silent as the air grew tense. Suddenly, one of the gang members screamed as he charged as Shizuo and swung the bat at his head.

The blow to Shizuo's head was so hard; it caused the bat to snap in half. The impact caused Haruka and the students to gasped while Izaya just grinned, enjoying the sight. Shizuo kneeled down while clutching his head; his body was shaking but he did not make any sounds. Blood was dripping from his head.

"Shizuo!" Haruka cried out, worried for him. She took a few steps towards him.

"You better stay back, girlie!" another gangster threatened. He pointed his metal pipe at her causing her to stop. "We won't hesitate to attack you."

"Haruka, stay back," Masaomi pulled her back by the shoulders, trying to get her away from the gang member.

"No! I have to help Shizuo!" she retorted.

A low chuckle was heard. Everyone looked at Shizuo, who was slowly standing back up. His sunglasses were left on the ground. Blood was pouring down his face but he kept his eyes covered with his golden blonde hair. "You bastards," he chuckled evilly, "You know a hit in the head like that could really kill a guy." He looked at the gang members with a stare that said 'kill'. "Also you don't threaten Haruka like that. You bastards asked for it."

Shizuo charged at the gangster who hit him and punched him in the chin. The punch was so hard, it knocked the guy right out of his clothes and he was hurled all the way across the street. Realizing how much trouble they were in, the gangsters all charged at Shizuo preparing to attack. However, Shizuo fought back, hitting the members one by one. His attacks were so hard, that one punch could easily knock them out. Haruka and the three teenagers just watched in astonishment.

Izaya, taking his chance, started to back away, "Well it's been fun but it's my time to go." He ran away.

Shizuo, who was done fighting the gang members, growled, "You flea! Where do you think you're going!"

He was about to run after Izaya. Yet, someone came down from the sky and blocked Shizuo's path. Shizuo, who's anger was increasing by the second, was about to punch the stranger but the stranger held out his hand and blocked the punch.

"Hey, isn't that Simon, the sushi guy?" Mikado recognized the stranger.

Sure enough, it was Simon, "Stop this. Fighting is bad." He seemed to be struggling to block the punch. However, Shizuo was backing down. He was getting more and more pissed off.

Haruka could no longer stand back and watch. She pulled herself out of Masaomi's grip and ran to Shizuo. She clutched his wrist and looked him in the eyes, "Shizuo, you need to calm down. It's okay."

He was still focused on Simon so she gripped his wrist tighter, "Shizuo, please listen to me!" she softened her eyes. She knew exactly what was on his mind. "We're okay."

He slowly looked at her but the force of the punch was still strong. Noticing that she had his attention directed at her, she continued, "Izaya's long gone and the gang members are down. No one's going to hurt us. We're safe now. We're okay."

Very slowly, Shizuo began to straighten up and pulled his fist back from Simon. He took a few deep breaths to calm down as Haruka let go of his wrist. He looked at her and asked, "Are you okay?"

She nodded, "I'm fine. You?"

He looked at the ground behind him and eyed his broken sunglasses, "Those bastards broke my sunglasses."

"We can get you a new pair," she turned to Simon, "Are you okay?"

Simon waved it off, "I am fine. Do not worry about me."

"We should get going," Shizuo said, "I'm getting hungry."

"You should come and eat sushi!" Simon suggested.

"Maybe some other time," Haruka spoke up, "Shizuo needs to have his head checked. Plus, I already planned for making dinner for him." She and Shizuo started walking away. They only took a few steps before she stopped and turned around. "Mikado, it was nice to see you again." She looked at Masaomi, "Please be safe." She turned around and ran to catch up to Shizuo.

As soon as they were far enough, Simon spoke up. He looked at the pair but he spoke loud enough for the kids to hear, "She is the only one who can calm that man down. It is beautiful in a way because he can no longer live a life away from her."

"Hey Masaomi, I thought you said to avoid Shizuo. Why is your sister hanging out with him?" Mikado asked.

Masaomi stared at Ikebukuro's strongest man and the woman who was his sister. Sullenly, he answered, "Because he was there for her when I wasn't."